Automobile parking and storage machine



Dec. u, 19351., R Sum HAL 2,024,190 y AUTOMOBILE PARKING AND STORAGE MACHINE Filed Feb. 1 5, 195s 5 sheets-sheet 1 B 7 5 f, f @-1- O5/ @9% l Fc l2; 9 -lv'f ::jln

" a), im $2) A l Y l ATTORNEY Dec, 17, 1935. Raum er A1. 2,024,190

AuToMoILE PARKING AND STORAGE MAHf'NE v Filei feb. 15, 1953 "5 sheets-sheet z ATTOR N EY- en, l?, 935,

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AUTOMOBILE PARKING AND STORAGE MACHINE Filed Feb. 15. 955 'l f 5 Speetsv-Shve'et 5 ATTORNEY l N VE NTO R5, PIK/cw SUM/ Dec. 17, 1935. R. sum1 r-:r AL. 2,024,190

AUTOMOBILE PARKING AND STORAGE MACHINE Filed Feb. 15. i955 s sheets-sheet 4 l -w -v Dec. 17, 1935.

R. sUMl 1' AL AUTOMOBILE PARKING AND STORAGE momma Filed Feb. 15. 195s 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTOR NEY Patented Dec. 17, 1935 Rikichi Suini, Ohta Odamlu'a Kawabegun Hyogoken, and Nakaii Sasayama, Kitanagasadori Kobeku Kobe, Japan Application February 15, V1938, Serial No. 656,804

2 Claims. (Cl. 21d-18.1)

This invention relates to means for conveying and storaging automobiles and the like.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an automobile parking and storage machine by means of which the greatest possible number of automobiles may be received and stored in the smallest possible space.

The above and other objects of this invention may be realized through the provision of a device comprising platforms provided with fingers which are constantly supported while being rotated, by hook-like links of endless chains. The #device is also provided with rollers loosely connected with these fingers and in contact with guiding rails,

l5 whereby a smooth movement is assured.

Automobile parking machines known` in prior art comprise cages for the 'automobiles which are provided with arms or levers connecting the cages to the chains. These machines require a large space due to the fact that it is necessary to rotate either the upper part or the bottom part of the cages. This disadvantage is eliminated by the device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. According to the present invention the device is provided with a number of platforms suitable for storing automobiles and the device is so arranged that while these platforms are moved in a counter clockwise direction, they are first moved downward and then as each of the platforms reaches its lowest position, it is caused to move to the right; after a platform has completed its movement to the right, it is moved upward until it reaches its highest position then it is moved to the left and nally after it has completed this movement to the left, it is caused to move downward to its lowest position. In other words, each platform is caused to move downward, to the right, upward, to the left, and then downward 0 again. v

Each platformis operated as follows: When a platform is moved vertically downward i,at the left hand side, it will stop momentarily in the course of this movement. As soon as another platform has completed its movement in a horizontal direction, the first-'mentioned platform will resume its movement and will continue to move downward until it reaches its lowest point.

-55 tion. After that it moves to the left horizontally and then moves intermittently downward on the left hand side until it reaches its lowermost position. The length of the horizontal or vertical pathof each platform corresponds to the distance from one platform to the next platform.

Cars are moved on to a platform or are taken away from a platform preferably when the platform is not moving and as soon as a car is placed upon a platform or removed therefrom, the motion of the platform is resumed. Furthermore, 10 when a platform reaches a required position, the motor which pulls the endless chains may be stopped so that a motor car may be placed upon a platform or removed from it, and thereafter the motor may be switched on again.

It will be noted that in this device each platform is moved along straight lines and does not 1 carry out a circular motion so that a large amount of space is saved. The platforms are comparatively light and all suspending levers or arms are 20 eliminated. Since the platforms always extend horizontally, the automobiles may be removed at any position of the platform.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in 25 connection with the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments oi' the inventive dea.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows an automobile parking machine 30 in front elevation.

Fig. 2 shows the same machine in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section along the line A-A of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 isa horizontal section along the line 35 B-B` of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the part C of Fig. 1. y

Fig. (il is a section along the line D-D of Fig. 5. 40

Fig. 7 isan enlarged front elevation of the part E ofFig.- 1.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section along the line F-F of Fig. 7.

Figs.'9 and 10 show in side elevation the par- 45 tialsegment gears used for power transmission purposes.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a device wherein y the motor cars are moved in the front and rear directions. Fig. 12 shows a horizontal section of Fig. 11 on the line G-G.

The machine shown in the drawings comprises an electrical motor I placed on the top board of a rectangular column. The motor I drives the main shaft 2. Two partial segment gears 3 and 4 are secured tothe main shaft 2. The first partial-segment gear 3 is shown more clearly in Fig. 9 of the drawings, some teeth of this gear being removed. The second partial segment gear 4 is shown more clearly in Fig. 10 of the drawings, with its teeth partially fitted. The first partial segment gear 3 meshes with a pinion 6 mounted upon a shaft 5. The second partial segment gear 4 meshes with another pinion 8 fixed upon a shaft 1. lSprocket wheels 9 are attached to the two ends of the shaft 5. Another shaft 5' is situated directly below the shaft 5 and carries sprocket wheels 9 which are situated directly underneath the sprocket wheels 9. Other sprocket wheels 9" are situated on the horizontal level corresponding to the sprocket wheels 9' and 9', both in the front left hand side and the rear right hand side, looking in the direction of Fig. 1. An endless chain III is in engagement with four sprocket wheels consisting of the aforementioned sprocket wheels 9', 9 and two other sprocket Wheels 9" situated at the upper left hand side and the lower left hand side, respectively. Another endless chain III' which is similar to the chain I0 is in engagement with the rear sprocket wheels 9', 9. and two sprocket wheels situated at the right hand side. v l

Sprocket wheels I I are carried by the two ends of the shaft 1. Two other sprocket wheels II' are situated on the left hand side and the right hand side, respectively, of the sprocket wheels II, and are located on the top somewhat outwardly of the sprocket wheels 9". Two sprocket wheels II" are situated perpendicularly below the sprocket wheels II' and are in engagement with an endless chain I2. Thersprocket wheels II" are placed in such a manner that they correspond to the highest point which a platform 25 would reach when rising.

The same shaft which carries the sprocket wheels II" also carries sprocket wheels I3. Sprocket wheels I3' are situated perpendicularly below the sprocket wheels I3, somewhat lower than the lowest stopping position of the platform. A separate endless chain I4 is in engage- .ment with the sprocket wheels II", I3 and I3.

The sprocket wheels I3 should be located somewhat outside of the upper part of the sprocket wheels 9".

When the electric motor I is started it will drive the endless chains in different directions, namely, the chain III will -move in the direction of the arrow a, the chain I' will move in the directionof the arrow b, the chain I2 will move in the direction of the arrow c and the chain I4 will move in the direction of the arrow d.- However, the speed of all these chains will be the same. While the endless chains I0, I0 are moved, the endless chain I2 will remain immovable, and consequently the chain I4 also will not move. In the same manner, while the chains I2 and I4 are moving the chains I0 and I0' will not move. The duration of motion of all of these chains is determined by the number of teeth of the two partial segment gears, as well as the position of the teeth of these gears. In fact, the movement of the chains Ill, I0' and I4 depend on the two partial segment gears and the pinions meshing with these gears.

The platform 25 comprises a flat board adapted to support an automobile I5. Brackets I are attached to both the front side and the rear side of the at board. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3,

the outer side of each bracket is provided with long fingers I1 projecting at the front left hand side and the rear right hand side. .Other fingers I1 are located at the front right hand side and the rear left hand side. The fingers I1 and I1' 5 carry rollers I8 and I8', respectively, which are rotatably mounted in these fingers.

The endless chains III, I0 and I4 are connected by means of suitable pins with the links I9 and I9' having hooklike members 20. The 10 pins carry rollers 2l which travel along inner surfaces of guide plates 22, preferably made of angle steel. Other guide plates 23 which are parallel to the guide plates 22 are in contact with a roller I8 which is loosely attached to the 15 longer fingers I1. The fingers I1 are supported by hook-like members which operate jointly with the endless chains.

When a number of platforms are to be moved at regular intervals, the longer ngers I1 at the 20 front left hand side are supported by the endless chain III, while the longer fingers I1 at the rear left hand side are supported by the hook-like members of the chain I0'. In that case, the rollers I8 and I8' will move vertically after they 25 have come in contact with the guide plates 23 and 23', respectively, (Fig. 3). When these rollers stop, after having reached the lowermost position, the longer ngers I1 below will be supported by the hook-like members connected to the end- 30 less chain I4, (Figs. l and 7), while the longer fingers in the upper part will not be supported at all. As soon as the longer fingers I1 will be supported by the hook-likemembers of the chain I4, the chain I4 will move in the direction of 35 the arrow d. Furthermore, when the platform is moved a little, the rollers I8 which are loosely mounted on the upper fingers I1, will be supported by the horizontal rail 24. Consequently, the platform will move from the left hand side, as shown in Fig.` 1, to the right hand side. As soon as the long fingers I1 come into engagement with the hook-like members of the endless chains I0, I0', the movement of the chain I4 will stop and the chains I0, Ill' will begin to move. In 45 other words, the platform after descending perpendicularly on the left side, will move horizontally to the right and thenv ascend vertically on the right hand side. Simultaneously, the platform which is situated at its upper stopping position of the right hand side will move to the left. When the upper longer fingers I1 Will move to the left they will be supported by the hooklike members and the rollers I8 carried by these fingers will slide over the rail 24.

The described machine is used for storing automobiles one above the other. A similar machine may be used for storing motor cars horizontally; in that case; the chains I0, I0' must be made shorter and the chain I4 longer. A combi- 60 nation of both arrangementsalso may be used.

We claim asour invention:

1. In an automobile parking and storage machine, a platform comprising a board adapted toc carry an automobile, and abracket connectedwith said board; a finger carried by said bracket and extending substantially at right angles thereto,

a roller rotatably mounted upon said finger, means adapted-to contact said fingers for lowering said platform, moving it in a horizontal di- 'I0 rection, raising it, and then moving it in the opposite horizontal direction, said lowering, raising and horizontal movements being carried out alternately, and means maintaining a contact with said roller while said platform is being moved. 7l

0 of outer and inner rails disposed vertically and horizontally and forming a rectangular course in front oi' and behind said platform, the rstmentioned roller being adapted to roll on the outer rails, the second-mentioned roller being adapted to roll on the inner rails, and means adapted to contact said fingers for lowering said platform, moving it in a horizontal direction, raising it, and then moving it in the opposite horizontal direction, said lowering, raising and horizontal movev ments being carried out alternately.

RIKICHI SUMI. NAKAJI SASAYAMA. 

